Nintendo came forward with two big announcements at the end of its Mini Direct, both of which were about theShin Megami TenseiRPG series. Not only will players get a remake ofShin Megami Tensei: Nocturnein the near future, butShin Megami Tensei 5is finally scheduled for a release window.
However, while these announcements are cause for celebration for fans of the franchise, it isn’t as well known outside of Japan as some other JRPGs. For those Nintendo fans interested in learning more before the remake and the new entry arrive, here is a brief history ofShin Megami Tensei.
The Premise of the Series
Shin Megami Tensei,also known asMegami Tenseiin Japan, is a series with a rich history. It made its premiere in 1987 withDigital Devil Story: Megami Tenseifor PC and NES. This game was based on a series of novels of the same name by Aya Nishitani, which inspired the name of the series, although developer Atlus chose to tell its own stories beyond the 1990 sequel toDigital Devil Story.These games established many iconic gameplay features that remained in laterSMTgames, such as turn-based battles, negotiating with enemies, and battling demons with the help of one’s own demon allies.
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Most entries in theSMTfranchise have plots unrelated to one another, meaning new players can jump into the series wherever they so choose. Instead of carrying an interconnected story, the games focus on carrying over similar elements of setting and gameplay. Alongside the aforementioned details, the game often takes place in a post-apocalyptic urban setting, usually related to a demonic incursion on Earth. The game’s enemies and lore are also often inspired by elements of real-life religion, mythology, and other elements of culture. These sources of inspiration, along with dark and violent themes in many of the games,makeShin Megami Tenseia little controversial.
Spinoffs and the Future
Shin Megami Tenseigames have seen a lot of experimentation in the history of the franchise. For instance, there were two attempts at an MMORPG based onSMT.Shin Megami Tensei: Ninebegan as an MMO, but was later split up into single player and multiplayer components.Shin Megami Tensei: Imaginearrived a few years later as a dedicated MMO. Another very different but very successful spinoff comes in the form of a crossover withFire Emblem,known asTokyo Mirage Session #FE.However, the earliestSMTspinoff, introducing the theme of high schoolers battling demons, spawneda whole spinoff series:Persona.
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Some people that are unfamiliar withShin Megami Tenseimight know thePersonaseries, which has seen overwhelming global success in recent years, especially thanks tothe critically acclaimedPersona 5and its expanded editionPersona 5 Royal.ThePersonaseries started in 1996, each game telling a story about high schoolers battling supernatural creatures with the help of avatars of their hearts and minds called Personas. ThePersonagames also have unconnected plots and take heavy inspiration from international culture and religion.
Shin Megami Tenseihas a bit of a history for notable gaps between the games. The originalShin Megami Tensei: Nocturneonly appeared nine years after the previous entry in the series.Fans have knownShin Megami Tensei Vwas comingsince 2017, alongside the reveal of the Nintendo Switch. Little news on the game was making the community worried that the game was stuck in development, but they needn’t worry anymore.SMT Vsounds like it’s nearing completion, and will release worldwide next year. That’s a noteworthy choice for a franchise that traditionally releases in Japan months before appearing internationally. All things considered, the next entry in the series looks well poised to take the world by storm.
Shin Megami Tensei 5will release for Nintendo Switch in 2021.
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